‘E-bikes, I discovered, give you all the best bits of cycling, without the pain - the chance to enjoy the fresh air and the scenery, the feeling of freedom and exhilaration on the downhill sections, the ability to cover a good distance in a relatively short time,’ says Carol Hogarth, who takes to the hills of Eskdalemuir for a cycling adventure with Eskape
‘As soon as I boosted the power a bit, off I went, cruising up the steep hill, not breaking a sweat, not even slightly out of breath. This is the way to travel’
One of Dumfries & Galloway’s highest villages, surrounded by hills, Eskdalemuir is perhaps not the obvious location for a novice bike ride.
But the community’s new active travel initiative, Eskape offers a magic ingredient - a battery.
Eskape, based at Eskdalemuir Hub, has a fleet of e-bikes to hire and enjoy as part of organised, guided rides, or independent expeditions following mapped routes, on a mix of roads and gravel tracks.
Never having ridden a battery powered e-bike before, I joined Eskape’s co-ordinator Al Green for a morning exploring one of the many scenic trails around the picturesque village.
As a child, my bike was my main mode of transport, for getting to primary school, later to the bus stop for secondary school, and to the nearby town to meet my friends. I even did a Duke of Edinburgh expedition around Arran on two wheels.
But as an adult, cycling has been something I’ve done only once every few years, usually on holiday, and always on as smooth and flat a surface as possible.
So, heading into the Southern Uplands by bike was a little daunting. That was until we came to our first hill, heading up out of Eskdalemuir towards Lockerbie. As soon as I boosted the power a bit, off I went, cruising up the steep hill, not breaking a sweat, not even slightly out of breath. This is the way to travel.
For a novice part-timer like me, e-bikes, I discovered, give you all the best bits of cycling, without the pain - the chance to enjoy the fresh air and the scenery, the feeling of freedom and exhilaration on the downhill sections, the ability to cover a good distance in a relatively short time...
“Proper” cyclists may frown upon it, of course, but Al, who is a keen cyclist and accompanied me on his manual bike, insists that e-bikes get people, who wouldn’t otherwise cycle, out into the fresh air and active.
With its quiet roads, multitude of forest tracks and remote countryside, Eskdalemuir is an ideal location for cycling and walking, which Eskape also offers.
Al has published 10 pocket-size maps - each marking a cycle route of between six miles and 23 miles, with varying elevations - available from the Hub, and is currently designing a similar series of maps for walking routes. He has also been involved with producing a guide to more than 30 gravel rides in the area.
Encouraging a more active lifestyle within the community was the driving force behind Eskape when Lara Porter of Upper Eskdale Development Group first mooted the idea.
She then approached self-employed graphic designer Al, who moved from London to the area with his family during the pandemic: “I’m from Edinburgh and my wife Isla is from Waterbeck originally, and we had always talked about moving north at some point,” he explains.
“We fell in love with this area and don’t miss the city at all. This is the perfect place to live.
“I took the idea of Eskape Active Travel by the scruff of the neck and went for it. Everyone’s been so positive. It’s really rewarding.”
Initial funding for Eskape came from the Scottish Government’s Community Led Local Development Fund and the south of Scotland transport partnership SWestrans, to pay for the bikes, helmets and training for volunteers. The secure bike shed at Eskdalemuir Hub was constructed by volunteers.
The scheme was launched in April as part of Upper Eskdale Development Group, and Al hopes it will become a Community Interest Company in the future.
As well as e-bike hire and bespoke guided rides on request, Eskape has a regular programme of weekend guided rides and guided walks for different levels. Anyone can become an Eskape member to benefit from reduced priced activities.
Locals have completed various training courses – in guiding, first aid, bike maintenance etc – through Eskape, and Al is working with groups such as the Xcel Youth Project in Langholm to get more young people involved.
Scottish Cycling approached Eskape to be involved with its Social Impact Programme, centred on next year’s Tour de France Grand Depart (the first stage, from Edinburgh to Carlisle) which aims to inspire communities across Scotland to get on their bikes.
“At the heart of it all is the community,” Al says. “That’s where my heart is, too.”
(batteries are included)
See www.eskdalemuir.com/eskape-active-travel and find Eskape Active Travel on Facebook
*The new book, Eskdalemuir Gravel Rides, co-authored by Al Green and Stephen Martin, is available from Eskdalemuir Hub.
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